Summary
Giichi is a highly skilled Mugai-ryū killer whose past and the specific reasons for his death sentence remain largely unknown, though it is implied that the tragedy involved the sudden death of his sick son, Tojiro. He stands as one of the most formidable fighters in the series, having single-handedly slain 59 Ittō-ryū swordsmen. Among the Mugai-ryū members, he is the only one to accumulate enough kills to earn his freedom. He works closely with Kagimura Habaki and looks after the other Mugai-ryū members, attempting unsuccessfully to purchase Hyakurin’s freedom as well. When Habaki dissolves the Mugai-ryū, Giichi disappears and is later discovered living among the burakumin by Rin and Hyakurin, where he provides Rin with information regarding Manji’s whereabouts. Now a broken man, he deliberately distances himself from Hyakurin to spare her further pain, yet he is aware of her pregnancy. When she attempts to kill her unborn child, he intervenes, persuading her to carry the baby to term and allowing him to raise the child after birth. His unique weapon resembles an oversized bladed handcuff attached to a chain. Known as Kanetsura's Mito-no-Kami (Guardian of the Three Paths), it was adapted from a thresher or similar farming implement, enabling him to sever or entangle limbs, necks, and weapons from a distance. The handcuff-like design makes the attack difficult to block because it wraps around whatever it strikes, but the weapon is eventually broken by Manji in Volume 14: Last Blood. Giichi makes his first appearance in the Dark Shadows part 1.
